Which fouls bring a straight two minutes or a red card in handball?
I · Intermediate · Fouls and punishments · 6 of 6Those where the player disregards the danger to the opponent. Hard fouls, fouls on a player running fast and contact with the head, throat or neck bring a direct two-minute suspension. A foul that endangers health, above all one that makes a jumping or running opponent lose body control, is a red card.
How it works
- Straight two minutes: for fouls where the guilty player "disregards the danger to the opponent", whether or not a warning came first.
- Examples: high intensity or against an opponent running fast, holding on for a long time or pulling down, fouls against the head, throat or neck, hard hitting against the torso or throwing arm.
- Also: trying to make the opponent lose body control, such as grabbing the leg of a player who is jumping.
- Red card: a player "attacking an opponent in a way that is dangerous to his health is to be disqualified".
- What makes it dangerous: high intensity, or the opponent being "completely unprepared for the foul" and unable to protect themselves.
- The signs: actual loss of body control while running, jumping or throwing, a particularly aggressive action against the face, throat or neck and a reckless attitude.
- Small contact can be enough: it is "the danger to the opponent and not the intensity of the body contact" that decides.
- Red and blue: an action that is particularly reckless, particularly dangerous, premeditated or malicious also brings a written report.
- Goalkeepers: one who leaves the area to cut out a pass and collides with the attacker is disqualified.
- The restart: a free throw, or a 7-metre throw if a clear chance was destroyed.
The glossary has the disqualification, the red card, the blue card, the two-minute suspension, the foul, the jump shot and the fast break.
Tricky cases
A defender gives a jumping shooter a light push in the hip and the shooter falls badly. Can that be a red card?
Yes. A foul with very small impact can be dangerous when the player is in the air, and it is the danger that decides.
A defender's hand catches an attacker in the face while reaching for the ball. Is that a red card?
Not automatically. Fouls against the head, throat or neck are listed for a direct two minutes. A particularly aggressive action there is a disqualification.
A player has no warning yet and commits a hard foul on a sprinting opponent. Yellow card first?
No. Fouls of this kind bring a direct two-minute suspension, regardless of earlier warnings.
What is the difference between a red card and a red with a blue?
The blue card means the referees will submit a written report so that the authorities can consider further measures, such as a ban.
Why the rule exists
A handball shooter is in the air with one arm back and no way of breaking a fall. The rules therefore judge danger and not force: a light push at the wrong moment can put a player on their neck. Making that a red card protects players at the moment they are most exposed.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Disregarding the danger | Direct two minutes | IHF 8:4 |
| Dangerous to health | Disqualification | IHF 8:5 |
| Particularly reckless, dangerous, premeditated or malicious | Disqualification with a written report | IHF 8:6 |
| In the last 30 seconds, to prevent a goal | Disqualification and a 7-metre throw | IHF 8:6, comment; IHF 8:11 |
From the rule book
International Handball Federation, Rules of the Game: Indoor Handball (1 July 2025), Rule 8:3 to 8:6. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IX. Rules of the Game, a) Indoor Handball (PDF).